RESUMO
The structure of the title compound, Sr-bearing oxonitrido-aluminosilicate (Sr-sialon), contains two types of channels running along the a axis, with the three unique Sr atoms (coordinatioon number seven) residing in the larger one. The channels cross a three-dimensional Si-Al-O-N network, in which the Si and Al atoms are in a tetra-hedral coordination with N and O atoms. The chemical composition of the crystal is close to Sr(3)Al(3)Si(13)N(21)O(2) (tris-trontium trialuminium trideca-silicon henicosa-nitride dioxide), which can be expressed as a mixture of SrSiN(2), Si(3)N(4), AlN, and SiO(2) components in the molar ratio 3:3:3:1. The crystal studied was metrically orthorhombic, consisting of four twin components related by metric merohedry.
RESUMO
Single crystals of the title compound, strontium tetra-praseo-dymium tris-(silicate) oxide, SrPr(4)(SiO(4))(3)O, have been grown by the self-flux method using SrCl(2). The structure is isotypic with the apatite supergroup family having the generic formula (IX)M1(2) (VII)M2(3)((IV)TO(4))(3)X, where M = alkaline earth and rare earth metals, T = Si and X = O. The M1 site (3.. symmetry) is occupied by Pr and Sr atoms with almost even proportions and is surrounded by nine O atoms forming a tricapped trigonal prism. The M2 site (m.. symmetry) is almost exclusively occupied by Pr and surrounded by seven O atoms, forming a distorted penta-gonal bipyramid. The Si atom (m.. symmetry) is surrounded by two O (m.. symmetry) and two O atoms in general positions, forming an isolated SiO(4) tetra-hedron. Another O atom at the inversion centre (.. symmetry) is surrounded by three M2 sites, forming an equilateral triangle perpendicular to the c axis.